Big money, ground games fuel District 6 race

9:41 pm, Thursday, December 8, 2016

In a money-infused sprint to the finish, the top two candidates in the special election to succeed the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos in Senate District 6 were both relying on their ground games - knocking on doors, making calls and doing everything possible to make sure their core supporters have cast their ballots by 7 p.m. Saturday when the polls close.

"We're targeting people who vote often and who vote as Democrats," said former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia. "We've been working the ground game really hard just to make sure we get people out to vote."

Predominantly Hispanic, state Senate District 6 includes Houston's East End, as well as parts of Pasadena, Galena Park and Baytown. Gallegos represented the district from 1994 until his death last October. He was elected posthumously in November.

Alvarado said she was focusing on the issues the district's voters care about: education, the economy and jobs, health care.

"We're knocking on doors, phone-calling and keeping on message," she said. "I'm happy we haven't lowered ourselves into the gutter the way our opponent has."

Campaign funding

Garcia rejected the negative-campaigning charge. "Any time you compare a record - and that's all we're doing - your opponent will say you're going negative. We'll just have to let the voters decide."

Garcia, a county commissioner from 2002 to 2010, when she lost to then-political unknown Jack Morman, came into the race with $700,000 in leftover campaign funds.

Earlier this week, in new disclosures required eight days prior to the election, Garcia reported receiving $2,250 from plaintiff's lawyer Steven Mostyn, as well as in-kind contributions from the Texas Organizing Project PAC, of which Mostyn is a significant financial contributor, totaling $80,427.

In her previous report, Garcia reported an in-kind donation of $106,611 from the organization. She also reported receiving $10,000 from the Back to Basics PAC supported by Mostyn.

Alvarado has received large donations from the Houston Police Officer's Union, including $22,000 on her most recent report, which also disclosed a $15,000 donation from the Austin lobbying firm HillCo. She previously reported receiving $25,000 from both HillCo and the police union.

With eight candidates in the race, both the Alvarado and Garcia camps expect to face each other in a runoff. If a runoff is necessary, Garcia could rely on a cash reserve of $228,408 as of last Tuesday, while Alvarado reported $109,742.

Olmos, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the State Board of Education in 2010, said she is working her ground game, as well.

"We're knocking on doors and beating the bushes," she said.

Olmos, a former teacher and hair salon operator, noted that she received 80,000 votes in the general election for the State Board of Education, 35,000 from Senate District 6.

"I'm very positive," she said. "I'm trying to reach out to independent voters, Republican voters and some of the Democrats who are friends of mine."

She said she had spent $4,200 on the race, most of it her own money.

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